Tenants forced to move because of conditions

Tenants of about a dozen Chambersburg rental properties were ordered out of their units until they are brought up to borough code, the culmination of several months of legal steps by the Borough of Chambersburg and the property manager.

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Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

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Posted Jun. 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Posted Jun. 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM

CHAMBERSBURG — Tenants of about a dozen Chambersburg rental properties were ordered out of their units until they are brought up to borough code, the culmination of several months of legal steps by the Borough of Chambersburg and the property manager.
The Borough of Chambersburg asked for and received an order to vacate the properties from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Tenants were told Wednesday they needed to move by Thursday.
The borough coordinated with the Salvation Army and Maranatha Ministries to address temporary and alternative living arrangements.
What’s happened
The properties with chronic code violations that are impacted by the order include: 201-203 S. Main St., 368-370 Lincoln Way East, 103-105 S. Main St., 60 W. Queen St. and 8-10 W. Washington St.
“It is disappointing that the individuals who own and manage the properties have failed to work with the borough to bring the properties into compliance,” said Jeffrey Stonehill, borough manager. “The tenants are the victims of continued refusals to address code violations”
The borough notified the owners, managers and tenants on Feb. 28 that the properties needed to be vacated within 72 hours, but the property manager, Anwar Bajwa, appealed the notice to the building code board of appeals, according to a news release issued Thursday by the Borough of Chambersburg.
The Building Code Board of Appeals upheld the move and the borough again notified the owners, managers, and tenants on May 23 of the requirement to vacate the properties. Despite the notices, some of the tenants still remain.
“When residential property owners do not maintain their rentals in accordance with the borough’s adopted standards,” said Town Council President, William McLaughlin, “their failure negatively affects their tenants, neighboring properties and the borough as a whole.”
Many of the code violations relate to the safety and well being of tenants and neighbors, according to the news release.
On the Net
www.chambersburgpa.gov